enigma
noun
A person, thing, or situation that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand; a riddle or puzzle.
Etymology
From Greek ainigma meaning "a riddle," from ainissesthai "to speak in riddles," from ainos "fable, story."
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The Mona Lisa's smile remains an enigma to art historians."
- 2.
"He was an enigma even to his closest friends, never revealing his true feelings."
- 3.
"The ancient code was an enigma that took decades to decipher."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The Enigma machine was a cipher device used by Nazi Germany in WWII. British mathematician Alan Turing's work breaking Enigma codes is estimated to have shortened the war by two years.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 6 letters (E, N, I, G, M, A)
Scrabble Value: 9 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "ENIGMA" appears in many related words.
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